tonight at ten — major gains for the conservatives in england as labour's leader admits his party's lost the trust of working people. the tories win the hartlepool by—election — a labour seat for more than six decades. borisjohnson is there to celebrate with his new mp. if there's a lesson out of this whole election, the whole election campaign across the uk, it's that the public want politicians to get on with focusing on their needs and their priorities. a shattering day for labour in england as sir keir starmer says he takes full responsibility for the result and forfixing things. very often, we've been talking to ourselves instead of to the country, and we've lost the trust of working people particularly in places like hartlepool. i intend to do whatever

is necessary to fix that. staying in power — the scottish national party makes gains, but it's unclear if they've done enough to secure an overall majority. the snp appears to be on course for a fourth consecutive election victory and to be on course to have the privilege of forming a government again. in wales, labour holds firm, and the conservatives look set to become the second largest party in the welsh parliament, overtaking plaid cymru. also tonight. portugal, israel and iceland are among 12 countries you can visit after may 17th without self isolating on return. the scene is set for the champions league final in istanbul — but thousands of chelsea and manchester city fans are told they can't now go, as turkey is put on the travel red list. dozens of people are helped to safety as a tower block in london catches fire — it's partly covered in cladding

similar to grenfell tower. dozens of people are helped to safety as a tower block in london catches fire — it's partly covered in cladding and millions more are told they'll be offered an alternative to the astrazeneca vaccine, as the under 40s are added to the list later in hour we will have a sportsday on the bbc news channel with all the latest ors, results, interviews and features from the bbc sports centre. good evening. the conservatives are celebrating a major victory in the hartlepool by—election , with the prime minister saying in the hartlepool by—election, with the prime minister saying the result is a "mandate to continue to deliver" for the whole country. but labour's vote fell by 9% in the first electoral test for its leader sir keir starmer. he called the results "bitterly disappointing" and said he would do whatever it takes to rebuild trust in the party. the conservatives made history by winning hartlepool for the first time in over 60 years, with tory candidatejill mortimer winning almost twice as many votes as her labour rival.

the result was the start of a trend that continued in local council election results across england, with the conservatives picking up councils like dudley, nuneaton, and harlow. this is how the bbc projects the parties�* performances in the english local elections would translate in a general election. meanwhile in scotland, the snp have won some, but not all of their key target seats, they've been hoping to secure an outright majority and further their calls for another independence refererendum. we'll have the very latest from scotland and wales, where labour are on course to retain power shortly, but first, let's go live to westminster, and our political editor (os this isn't a general election but it gives a striking general impression of what is really going on in politics, injust of what is really going on in politics, in just about every corner of country right now. mr the plenty of country right now. mr the plenty of really important detail that we will talk about in the next half hour but for the big picture the

conservatives are cock—a—hoop, labour limping disappointed behind. and nowhere is that more apparent than in that important by—election in hartlepool, where the prime minister couldn't resist the testimony taping of paying a visit today. who does he look like? the tory prime minister pumped up and inflated to 100 foot high. with his party taking big strides, tramping over territory labour used to take at its own. par for over territory labour used to take at its own. parfor an over territory labour used to take at its own. par for an overnight shock but another step in a journey that started long wag it is shock but another step in a “ourney that started long wa— that started long wag it is a mandate — that started long wag it is a mandate we _ that started long wag it is a mandate we were - that started long wag it is a mandate we were asked - that started long wag it is a mandate we were asked to | that started long wag it is a - mandate we were asked to deliver that started long wag it is a _ mandate we were asked to deliver not just for the people of hartlepool of the north east but across the whole of country, the public want politicians to get on with focussing on their needs and priorities. the air has gone _ on their needs and priorities. the air has gone out of his point, when

labour veteran said holding hartlepool was a test of whether party could hold its own. it did not, not here. and the tories were digging in deeper, taking councils in much of england like nuneaton, dudley, and harlow in essex. little hope on labour faces, harlow in essex. little hope on labourfaces, that harlow in essex. little hope on labour faces, that things could be better, since the thumping of 2019, everyone with a newish leader, maybe things could only get worse. i everyone with a newish leader, maybe things could only get worse.— things could only get worse. i ambit early disappointed _ things could only get worse. i ambit early disappointed in _ things could only get worse. i ambit early disappointed in the _ things could only get worse. i ambit early disappointed in the result, - early disappointed in the result, and you know, i take full responsibility for the result, and i will take full responsibility for fixing things. we have changed as a party, but we haven't set out a strong enough case to the country. but a very public battle was under way, over where next even before he spoke. labour's old opposing generals, slugging it out. it is

amazin: generals, slugging it out. it is amazing because _ generals, slugging it out. it 3 amazing because jeremy corbyn has amazing becausejeremy corbyn has not been leader of the labour party for you know, a year, and yet here i was in hartlepool, having his name, you know being bandied round, on the doorstep, honestly, he casts a long shadow still. but doorstep, honestly, he casts a long shadow still-— shadow still. but on the other side, ”ointin shadow still. but on the other side, pointing the — shadow still. but on the other side, pointing the finger _ shadow still. but on the other side, pointing the finger in _ shadow still. but on the other side, pointing the finger in the _ shadow still. but on the other side, pointing the finger in the opposite i pointing the finger in the opposite direction, at keir starmer himself. he said he wants to make the moral case for socialism, he wanted a united party, and unfortunately, he's failed in all of those area, because we are now in a situation and hartlepool is the fan fest 0man fest tasting of it where people don't know what his vision is. the local elections _ don't know what his vision is. the local elections aren't just about the two biggest parties's wins and loss, there has been a list of complex contests too. the liberal democrats, picking up pocketses of support again. hear in cambridgeshire an extra backing for the liberal democrats... and the

greens together, edged out labour from overall control in sheffield too. but remember, there are many, many results to come. so far, it is labour in the doldrums but they expect to keep london, and maybe march on in some parts of the south. and whatever happened to the banners in powys? labour's vote in wales held up pretty well. down at least in part to the leadership of mark drakeford, more solid than the set. yet there is a huge headache for labour and the conservatives in scotland. there has never been a doubt that nicola sturgeon�*s snp would win this election, what we don't know yet is by how much, or exactly how hard she is therefore push for another vote on independence soon, and isn't giving that away just yet.— that away 'ust yet. extremely happy and that awayjust yet. extremely happy and extremely _ that awayjust yet. extremely happy and extremely confident _ that awayjust yet. extremely happy and extremely confident that - that awayjust yet. extremely happy and extremely confident that we - that awayjust yet. extremely happy| and extremely confident that we are on track in the snp, for a fourth consecutive election victory, and to have the ability to form a

government again, and that is an extraordinary achievement for any political party. for extraordinary achievement for any political party-— political party. for all the party, with many _ political party. for all the party, with many votes _ political party. for all the party, with many votes not _ political party. for all the party, with many votes not yet - political party. for all the party, | with many votes not yet counted there will be losses unknown to commiserate and victories to accelerate. 0ne tory needn't wait to cheer, the mayor of tees valley, nearly three—quarters of all of the votes wept his way. hat nearly three-quarters of all of the votes wept his way.— nearly three-quarters of all of the votes wept his way. not only are we the -a votes wept his way. not only are we the party of — votes wept his way. not only are we the party of the _ votes wept his way. not only are we the party of the working _ votes wept his way. not only are we the party of the working family, - votes wept his way. not only are we the party of the working family, but| the party of the working family, but we are the new party of the north. claims that not so long ago would have sounded audacious, fanciful, perhaps, but today's results so far underline, with the real boris johnson at the top, it's not so far—fetched now. in scotland, the snp have picked up some of their key target seats. they are set to form the next scottish government. but they may not have won enough seats to secure an outright majority in the scottish parliament to bolster their calls for another independence referendum. this is the current situation, we won't know the full

results until tomorrow. 0ur scotland editor sarah smith has the latest. angus robertson snp 16,276. angus robertson snp16,276. every seat that has _ angus robertson snp16,276. every seat that has changed _ angus robertson snp16,276. every seat that has changed hands in scotland has gone to the snp. with a dramatic victory in edinburgh trail. they took ayr from the tories an east lothian from labour. it is a return for one of the snp's big hitters. in it is a return for one of the snp's big hitters— it is a return for one of the snp's big hitters. in this most european of caital big hitters. in this most european of capital cities, _ big hitters. in this most european of capital cities, people _ big hitters. in this most european of capital cities, people have - of capital cities, people have resoundingly rejected the party of brexit and boris johnson, resoundingly rejected the party of brexit and borisjohnson, the public has rejected all of the parties that want to block an independence referendum.— want to block an independence referendum. nicola sturgeon is confident she _ referendum. nicola sturgeon is confident she will _ referendum. nicola sturgeon is confident she will win - referendum. nicola sturgeon is confident she will win a - referendum. nicola sturgeon is. confident she will win a mandate referendum. nicola sturgeon is - confident she will win a mandate to hold another vote on leaving the uk,

and secure a remarkable fourth term in government. it and secure a remarkable fourth term in government.— in government. if that is indeed the outcome of — in government. if that is indeed the outcome of this _ in government. if that is indeed the outcome of this election, _ in government. if that is indeed the outcome of this election, i - in government. if that is indeed the outcome of this election, i pledge l outcome of this election, i pledge today, to get back to work immediately, to continue to steer this country through the crisis of covid, to lead this country into recovery from covid, and then, when the time is right, to offer this country the choice of a better future. ., , ., ., �* ., future. voters who don't want independence _ future. voters who don't want independence appear - future. voters who don't want independence appear to - future. voters who don't want independence appear to be i future. voters who don't want i independence appear to be using their votes to back unionist party, in dumbarton labour held on as tories switched to the party most likely to beat the snp. while in dumfriesish, the tories increased their vote at the expense of the labour party. their vote at the expense of the labour party-— their vote at the expense of the labour pa . _, , ., .,, labour party. the constitution was ut front labour party. the constitution was put front and _ labour party. the constitution was put front and centre _ labour party. the constitution was put front and centre in _ labour party. the constitution was put front and centre in this - put front and centre in this campaign by snp and their desire to divide scotland all over again but scottish conservatives had a clear plan for what we can do in the necks parliament if we can get rid of the threat of another independence

referendum. the threat of another independence referendum.— threat of another independence referendum. ,, ., ., ., , referendum. the snp have made gains but tacktical voting _ referendum. the snp have made gains but tacktical voting means _ referendum. the snp have made gains but tacktical voting means it _ referendum. the snp have made gains but tacktical voting means it looks - but tacktical voting means it looks difficult if not impossible for them to achieve an overall majority but with the addition of the scottish greens and the snp it seems clear there will be be a pro independence parliament in the. an interloper had to be ejected from the counts. as the snp held on the airdrie and shotts, neil gray's wife tweeted a request he bring home milk. anas sarwar has only been scottish labour leader for less than three month, in that short time it appears he has not transformed labour's really poor recent results.— not transformed labour's really poor recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it is _ recent results. compared to where we were ten weeks' ago, it is a _ were ten weeks' ago, it is a magnificent turn round, but i am not pretending this journey is complete, alex salmond had hoped to make a come back with his new party, but now admits they are unlikely to win a single seat.

remember, we have only had less than half of the results in scotland, tomorrow we will get far more, including on ten regional list, and that will change the picture a lot because the tories, labour and the scottish greens pick most of their seats there. it is only once we have had those results we will see just how large the pro independence majority in this new parliament is and where that takes the argument for another referendum on dense. in wales, labour has held firm in elections for the welsh parliament. the conservatives have made gains and look set to become the second largest party — overtaking plaid cymru. this is the situation at the moment, with more than half of the 60 constituency and regional results declared. 0ur wales correspondent hywel griffith reports. for over two decades, through every political storm, labour has held on to power in wales. with every election cycle, its numbers have only moved a little. right now, it looks like a party on the up. in a seat labour

lost five years ago, it's taking back control. in llanelli, it's turned the majority into a healthy lead. but celebrations may be understated, like the party leader, but there's no doubt he's delivered. i started this campaign answering questions as to why this was going to be labour's worst ever result, a poll prediction of 22 seats. the campaign never felt like that to me. we've had a fantastic and energetic campaign with hundreds of people involved and real enthusiasm on the doorstep. covid dominated the campaign. it changed voting, too, slowing down the count. the final result now won't come until tomorrow, but the winners and losers are already clear. the conservatives have claimed new territory, like here in the vale of clywd. their final tally tomorrow should be up, but they know when they've been beaten.

at the moment, we're very optimistic. it's looking positive in certain seats for us and on the region as well, but it does look as if many labour voters are returning to the fold and endorsing some of the work that mark drakeford's government has done to the pandemic. hopes of putting independence at the centre of the election failed. iam i am frustrated when we don't make as much progress, why, because that is the only way we can deliver the future to the people and the communities they have spoken to across wales but i am heartened by the fact that we have made progress, in the rising self confidence of our nation. . ,.. , , nation. the landscape here is chan . in . nation. the landscape here is changing slowly, _ nation. the landscape here is changing slowly, the - nation. the landscape here is changing slowly, the liberal. changing slowly, the liberal democrats may disappear completely and the party which wants to shut down the senedd could pick up seats but it will be welsh labour at the helm once again. trying to steer their way through the next five years.

given labour's woes elsewhere, what is happening here in wales could be seen as a silver lining, now the party's leader mark drakeford seems to be completing his transformation from anonymous academic few had heard of two years ago to a political pin up, a leader who seems to be on the verge of equalling labour's best performance in wales, we will know the final numbers tomorrow. thank you. the first big result of the day came early this morning when hartlepool elected a conservative mp for the first time in more than six decades, with almost double the number of votes of labour. 0ne shadow minister called the result "absolutely shattering". 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth has been finding out why, after so long, the town has gone blue. as the sun came up on the north—east coast, the news came in. jill mortimer, conservative party candidate, is duly elected. after decades of labour,

hartlepool awoke to a tory mp. through this result, the people have spoken. these early swimmers had sensed a shift coming when we met them before the election. they'd been ready for waves. everybody in hartlepool has always voted labour. it'sjust a change now, because we seen a brighter future. my poor dad would turn over in his grave because he was a staunch labour supporter! but there you go. jeff has been unconvinced by successive labour leaders. they allowed themselves | the indulgence of corbyn, but for ordinary people, - it frightened the horses big style. it scared me. when starmer and the likes came up here, nobody knew _ what the message was. i don't even think they knew what the message was. - paul, once a shop steward, now an active tory supporter, lost faith in labour over years. in hartlepool, itjust didn't do anything. itjust relied on the fact that they had a block vote that was unchallenged, and it's taken a long time for people to start to realise that we were just taken for granted. and it's a tragedy. this goes beyond hartlepool.

labour's bond with what was the party faithful has been loosening over time. support�*s eroded in towns and concentrated in cities, the reasons both complex and contested. but in areas that backed leave, brexit�*s clearly played a part. and for many, he's been a catalyst. he's class. big boris, isn't he? this was the victory tour today. is he going to buy us all fish and chips? everybody? his party has pledged this town big investment, and expectations are high. people here say they have taken a chance on the tories. he will have to keep his promises to them if he's to keep their support. the challenge for labour is much greater. they have to understand why people switched, and respond, if they're to find a way back to downing street. there is awareness of the struggle ahead here. this former labour mp lost his seat in nearby sedgefield at the general election.

people in the past have called them, probably still do, the left—behind communities, which is a phrase i hate. they haven't been left behind, they've moved on. it's the labour party that's been left behind, because they're not speaking the language of the local people, and we need to regain that if we're going to win an election again. the lines on the political map have blurred and shifted. labour's fate depends on the course it now takes. alex forsyth, bbc news, hartlepool. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, is in westminster for us tonight. plenty more votes still to be counted, but your assessment tonight? counted, but your assessment toniaht? ., , ., counted, but your assessment toniaht? . , ., tonight? that is a good reminder this hue tonight? that is a good reminder this huge set _ tonight? that is a good reminder this huge set of— tonight? that is a good reminder this huge set of results - tonight? that is a good reminder this huge set of results is - tonight? that is a good reminder this huge set of results is not. tonight? that is a good reminderj this huge set of results is not yet over, but there are three things we can say for sure tonight already. number one, the tories have moved further along, their long—term journey of grabbing areas labour used to rely on, important to remember that has not happened overnight and it did notjust happen in the last 2a hours, it did not even just in the last 2a hours, it did not evenjust happen in in the last 2a hours, it did not even just happen in the 2019 general election. but it is more evidence of

a really profound move over time where labour are really getting squeezed to the cities and fewer and fewer parts of the country. second, we have also had remainder today of the sometimes fragile connection between events in there, in the houses of parliament behind me, and have people watching tonight really feel about what is going on. boris johnson has had a torrid time in westminster in the last few weeks, yet millions of voters have reminded his party and people who sit on the green benches that actually, he is a for millions of voters and labour, who had been setting the agenda round here for the last little while, well, they have discovered today rudely perhaps to some that they are still a brand for many people that is something they don't want to have anything to do with. and thirdly, we have really seen today that we are in the scenario where there are very different situations in terms of the politics of different parts of the country. that is notjust about of different parts of the country. that is not just about the

of different parts of the country. that is notjust about the very interesting situation in scotland still yet unresolved, but also about what has happened in wales today where labour's performance there differs greatly to what has been happening in england and the different environment in towns and cities, north and south of england, too. and all the parties have to grapple with that fact that the jigsaw gets more and more complicated as time goes on, even after the last five or six years of real turmoil in what used to be a pretty stable political system. laura kuenssberg, in westminster, thank you. the international travel ban for england will start to be slowly lifted in ten days' time. portugal, israel and gibraltar are on a list ofjust 12 green countries that you will be able to travel to without quarantining on return. but some won't actually let you in. meanwhile, turkey has been added to the red list for travel,

so thousands of fans with tickets for the manchester city—chelsea champions league final at the end of the month now can't go. here's caroline davies. relief in portugal today. just two months ago, the country was on the uk's red list. now, it's one of the first to go green. no—one enjoys the holiday more than the british people, and we all know that. and they bring a colourful atmosphere to everyone and all the restaurants and bars and all the hotels around the algarve, and lisbon and porto. and it's just... this is a happy moment for now. it's a happy moment for everyone. 12 countries and territories, including portugal, gibraltar, israel, iceland, singapore, australia and new zealand, will be classed as green, meaning anyone travelling from there to england won't need to quarantine from the 17th of may. that doesn't mean all of these

countries will welcome tourists. some, like australia and new zealand, will not. there are only 12 countries and territories on this list. passengers will be very disappointed by that, as will the industry. why are there so few? we are having to be cautious about this initially. we don't want to overturn all the brilliant work of, frankly, the british people in taking these vaccines and staying at home and all of that pain. so, we can't do anything to put that at risk. please place your bagsi in the lockers and close them once they are full. after months of preparing, this isn't the grand reopening many in the travel industry were open for. data and science will tell you that you could add the majority of european countries onto that green list, and they have failed to demonstrate what data and points they're using, and why that should not be the case. three countries have also been added to the red list from 4am on wednesday, including turkey, where the champions league final between chelsea and manchester city is due to take place later this month. the government has confirmed talks are happening to try to bring it to the uk and said fans shouldn't travel there. i don't think anybody was looking forward to the idea of

eight, ten, 12,000 supporters travelling to istanbul, which is the worst covid hotspot in europe at the moment. more countries will be added, or removed, from the list every three weeks, and the government say those fully vaccinated will be able to show their status on the nhs app from the 17th of may. for now, travel to most of the world is still not possible, but more is promised just over the horizon. caroline davies, bbc news. millions more people will be offered an alternative to the oxford/astrazeneca jab, after the choice was extended to adults under the age of a0 because of concern over rare blood clots. the under—305 had already been offered a differentjab. 0ur medical editor, fergus walsh, reports. the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine is the main workhorse of the nhs immunisation campaign and highly effective at preventing serious covid infection but, unlike the pfizer and moderna jabs, it's been linked to

a rare clotting disorder. 28.5 million doses of the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine have been given in the uk up to the last week of april. there have been 2112 cases of rare blood clots, combined with low platelet levels, almost all after the first shot. the overall incidence is one in 100,000 doses, but the risks are higher for those in their 30s, where it rises to one in 60,000 doses. there have been 49 deaths in total — that's two deaths per1 million doses of vaccine. falling infection rates means the threat to the under—40s from covid is now so small that the potential risk from the astrazeneca vaccine to this age group looms larger so, where possible, they'll be given a differentjab. we offer this advice — which places a high

priority on safety — in the hope that it will further increase vaccine confidence, so that those of us who are being offered a vaccine in the coming weeks can feel more confident and feel more able to step forward, accept the offer of a vaccine. the nhs is still on target to offer every adult a first dose by the end ofjuly, and vaccines remain the key to ending the pandemic. they have already saved over 10,000 british lives but, actually, the greater value of these vaccines is the lives they will save in the future by keeping the disease under long—term control, and that is why we must finish the job. the under—40s play a key role in transmission of coronavirus, so vaccination will protect them in any third wave and protect the vulnerable even more. fergus walsh, bbc news.

the latest government covid figures show 2,490 new infections in the latest 24—hour period, meaning an average of 2,060 new cases per day in the last week. 15 deaths were reported in the latest 24—hour period. meaning 12 deaths were announced, on average, every day in the past week. 127,598 people have now died across the uk. as for vaccinations, just over 35 million people have now had their first covid jab. more than 16.5 million people are now fully vaccinated. they have had their second vaccine. police are appealing to the public to help identify a man who was seen close to where the police community support officer julia james was killed. ten days ago. they've released a photograph

that was taken in kent the day after the 53 year old was found dead near her home. she died from significant head injuries. helena wilkinson reports. who is this man? detectives desperately need to know. they say he could be the key to unlocking what happened to julia james. somebody knows who that man is. we desperately need you to make contact with us and help us identify who that person is. if that person is watching, please make contact with us. we believe that you have crucial information. the man in the image that police have released today was spotted somewhere along this country lane in aylesham last wednesday, the day after the body ofjulia james was discovered. this is an area that's not far from the crime scene. where the photograph came from, or who took it, police won't say. julia james had been walking her dog when she was attacked, just a few hundred yards from her home. she suffered significant head injuries.

her husband posted this photograph of them both, saying how much he missed her. a reward of up to £10,000 has been offered by crimestoppers for information leading to a conviction in this case. officers from forces across the country have now been asked to support kent police on what continues to be a challenging case for them. 0n the tenth day of this investigation, they're hoping they're getting closer to the breakthrough they need. helena wilkinson, bbc news, aylesham in kent. new allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against the actor and director noel clarke, relating to his time on the bbc�*s doctor who. more women have come forward and spoken to the guardian, alleging incidents of harassment and inappropriate behaviour during the making of the bbc one series. the bbc says it was �*shocked' to hear of the allegations. noel clarke has strongly denied all claims made against him.

in myanmar, more than 750 people have been killed since the military seized power three months ago. thousands have been detained, including the elected leader aung san suu kyi. it's become increasing difficult to report what's happening, with the internet effectively blocked, borders closed and many journalists detained. but people are documenting their ongoing resistance — including one young musician, whose story the bbc�*s rebecca henschke has been following. chanting myanmar, in the grips of an uprising, triggered by a military coup. mass protests — demanding a return to democracy — met with brutal force. gunshots in the middle of this, we meet 18—year—old phone. his generation is fired up,

defiant and determined to bring back democracy. this was phone's world before general min aung hlaing seized back power. he's a musician, who was just about to release his first album. the coup crushed those dreams. chanting we followed phone over weeks, as he took to the streets, armed with home—made shields. gunshots the military hits back this time with tear gas and rubber bullets. the next day, near phone's house, the response is live ammunition.